‘Bottle bill' battle intensifies as R.I. legislative session enters home stretch

Boston Globe

10 hours ago

Bottles placed in recycling bins end up being crushed and spread on the Central Landfill, leaving Rhode Island with a 'despicable' 17 percent recycling rate, she said.
'That's pathetic for a state like us, the Ocean State,' McEntee said. 'Something needs to change drastically.'
But that's where the disagreement begins. McEntee and Senator Mark P. McKenney have introduced
Advertisement
'I think all of us here today are sick and tired of seeing our communities littered with drink bottles, liquor nips, and other pieces of the trash,' McEntee said. " It's long overdue that Rhode Island enters the modern age of waste disposal and reuse by combining the proven and successful strategies of a bottle bill program."
Get Rhode Map
A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State.
Enter Email
Sign Up
But the Greater Providence of Chamber of Commerce and other business groups are waging a high-profile
'Our members support increasing the state's recycling rate but not by imposing a financial burden on local businesses and consumers,' the Rhode Island Business Coalition said in written testimony. 'By adding a 10-cent fee to nearly every beverage sold in the state, these proposals would raise prices for retailers working to keep their shelves stocked — and for families simply trying to afford everyday essentials like bottled water and soft drinks."
Related
:
Advertisement
Bottle bills have been introduced off and on in Rhode Island since the early 1980s, but they have run into stiff opposition from the national beverage companies and local retailers.
The most recent push began in 2023. McEntee, a South Kingstown Democrat, and McKenney, a Warwick Democrat, co-chaired a special legislative commission that delved into the issue for 18 months.
Jed Thorp, director of advocacy for the environmental group Save the Bay, said the commission held 13 meetings, and the House and Senate have had about 15 hours of committee hearings on the topic.
'Every person in the state who's wanted to weigh in on this has been heard,' he said. 'At this point, it is time to vote on this bill. It is time to get this done.'
Thorp said the study commission heard from experts from across the country. 'Through all of those hearings, it has become clear that yes, bottle bills work,' he said. 'Bottle bills we know are effective at both reducing litter and improving recycling.'
Thorp said advocates listened to opponents who said they support bottle bills if they are crafted in the right way. For example, retailers said they did not want to have to take back the empty containers. So the bill would require a producer responsibility organization to instead create a system that might involve 'bag-drop programs' or 'reverse vending machines,' he said.
But on Wednesday, a coalition of 73 small business owners signed onto a letter urging Governor Daniel J. McKee, House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, and Senate President Valarie J. Lawson to reject the 'bottle bill.'
Advertisement
'This legislation will raise costs for businesses and Rhode Island families at a time when many are already struggling with high prices due to inflation,' the coalition said. 'The cost of living and doing business in Rhode Island keeps going up, and this legislation would make matters worse.'
The coalition includes businesses such as Eastside Mart in Providence, Iggy's Food Mart in Warren, Ollie's Pub in Warwick, and Sam's Food Store Woonsocket.
While 10 cents per container may not sound like much, a 12-pack of soda would cost an extra $1.20, the coalition said. 'Rhode Island consumers and businesses cannot afford a bottle tax,' the letter stated.
Both McEntee and McKenney disputed the idea that the 10-cent deposit amounts to a tax.
'This isn't a bottle tax,' McKenney said. 'I've been paying taxes for years, and I've never gotten all my money back. With this — real easy — you return the bottles, you get the money back."
Ten states have bottle bills, including
'It's not like this is reinventing a wheel,' McKenney said. 'This is done in many states. My gosh, in Europe it's done in countries left and right.'
Sam Tracy, director of legislative affairs for the CLYNK bottle recycling company, spoke at Thursday's news conference, saying the company's technology is used in five of the 10 bottle bill states.
He said he also was representing a coalition of businesses that support legislation combining a 'bottle bill' with extended producer responsibility. That coalition includes Poland Spring, Guinness, and Red Bull, as well as local businesses like the Hot Club, and Frog & Toad, both in Providence.
Advertisement
With the 2025 legislative session entering its final weeks, the fate of the 'bottle bill' hangs in the balance. So what do legislative leaders have to say?
Lawson, who is a cosponsor of the
Shekarchi also issued a statement Friday, saying he appreciates the legislative commission's work during the past the past two sessions.
'I am reviewing all the options, looking at what other states are doing, and talking with the Senate,' Shekarchi said. 'I am fortunate to be receiving advice and guidance on this issue from former DEM Director Janet Coit, and will continue to consider the options.'
Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at